How To Build a Quantum Eavesdropper

KentuckyFC writes "Quantum encryption is perfectly secure, in theory. In practice, however, there are loopholes. Now Japanese scientists have designed a quantum eavesdropper that exploits one of these loopholes to listen in to quantum conversations. QC's security arises from the impossibility of making a perfect copy of a quantum object without destroying it — so the sender and receiver can always tell if they've been overheard. But it turns out that an eavesdropper can make imperfect copies and use them to extract information from a quantum message without alerting sender or receiver (abstract). The Japanese design does just this. That should worry banks and government agencies that have begun to use some of the commercial quantum encryption systems now available."

Oh no.

[interstellar_donkey]

But Al, why haven't I leaped?

Ziggy says there's a 98.5% chance that your security is flawed.

Ob. LOTR

[HungSoLow]

I've been droppin' no eaves sir.

Re:Oh no.

[TomRK1089]

Also, when your account info went into the test chamber, it....sorta got swiss cheesed.

You fool!

[scipiodog]

By listening in with the Quantum eavesdropper, you've changed what they were actually saying!

Oh, come on

[kvezach]

20 comments on a quantum mechanics article, and still no Schroedinger's Cat superposition jokes? What's Slashdot coming to these days?

Re:Oh, come on

[fosterNutrition]

I think you mean "what is Slashdot either coming to, or not coming to, these days?"

Re:Ob. LOTR

[kestasjk]

A little late for doing quantum physics experiments don't you think Sam?